Walmart

CHICAGO -- This city might become the first in the nation to require "big box" retailers like Wal-Mart or Home Depot to pay employees a "living wage" of at least $10 an hour plus $3 an hour in benefits.

CHICAGO -- Describing Wal-Mart as a "retail powerhouse in transition," Information Resources, Inc. here took a deeper look at Wal-Mart's dilemma and predicts what its next steps may be, in its latest "Times & Trends" report.

WATFORD, England -- International food and grocery research firm IGD here has forecast in a report that Wal-Mart will be the first global retailer to enter the Indian food and grocery retail market. Although the Indian retail sector, which is worth U.S. $203 billion according to the firm, is now closed to foreign direct investment, the government could allow international retailers to enter the market in the next year.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Shares of Wal-Mart Stores were up 2.96 percent yesterday, closing at $49.45, after Banc of America Securities upgraded the retailer based on its new merchandising strategy coupled with its outlook of improved margins from an accelerated sourcing program.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- The world's largest retailer is selling its South Korean retail business after determining that it won't achieve the scale it desired. Mike Duke, vice chairman of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., said yesterday that Shinsegae Co. has agreed to purchase the company's South Korean retail business for US $882 million.

WASHINGTON -- Wal-Mart opposition group WakeUpWalMart.com is asking Minneapolis-based discount chain Target Corp. to reconsider its proposed changes on employee health care.

PALM DESERT, Calif. -- RFID gains ground, Wal-Mart hits $500 billion, metal detectors at supermarket entrances -- these are some of the predictions made by market research firm ACNielsen at its Consumer 360 Conference yesterday.

WESTPORT, Conn. -- Shoppers would like more dynamic and exciting companies such as Starbucks, Whole Foods, Nordstrom's, or Disney to take over and run their local supermarkets, according to a research study conducted by New England Consulting Group (NECG) here.